I Told Them… : Another Good Album Just There

Burna Boy drops another studio album ‘I Told Them…’, after his global exploit and amazing run-through in Hollywood. The first track is a self-appraisal and braggadocious song where Burna Boy puts himself in the spot leading the way through. The Grammy Award winner is on the quest of being a household name in the US market. After his sold-out concert in the UK and US and gold-selling singles, it became evident his pool of fans was expanding. He is definitely winning more people by virtue of his singing style and entertainment.

His collaborations speak true of this feat. He has made songs with Cold Play, Sam Smith, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and many global music heavyweights. ‘I told them…’ was expectedly going to solidify the place of Afrofusion, as he claimed and as fans expected. The hype was taken overboard and his recent interview has taken people aback. Burna Boy is controversial, without a doubt but bashing the musical genre or culture that has raised you is appalling. Burna Boy’s claim of Afrobeats lacking substance is a dangerous route to go, oblivious of the deeds of the predecessors and what they have built in the game.

He is a significant add-on to the game but isn’t close to the height on taking on the culture, itself. People who may commit such acts ought to have achieved an indisputable legendary status. ‘I told them…’ is an average album and portrays a drastic fall compared to ‘Love Damini’ and ‘African Giant’. The Afrofusion king gave an impression of ‘I told Them…’ to be something we might hold on to for a long time, not at all. No hook or chorus is stuck in my head even after about three listens.

The album began with a tropical light groovy beat that was followed by Burna Boy’s tongue twist twisting. The first track ‘I Told Them’ is the epistle of his self-belief and the battle to realise it, throwing punches at Naysayers. The sounds of punches and swords slaying lay on the words of GZA that ran through to conclude the track.  Burna is a fighter and it is inherent in every facet of his life.  ‘Normal’ and ‘On Form’. were regular songs out of Naija, original Afrobeats music.

‘Sittin’ on Top of the World’ may sit well with millennials, reminiscent of Brandy who he sampled. It is a classic and worthy blast from the past but it seems not to go well in 2023 for some reason. Even with 21 Savage on the track, it still felt kind of like basic. Even though it preceded the album, I don’t think it helped push it significantly. ‘Tested, Approved & Trusted’ is where Burna Boy comes for the ladies with a spice of reggae and Afrobeat rhythm.

‘Cheat on Me’ feat Dave puts Burna in a place of pain and struggles to associate the hassle of migration. Excerpts of Virgil’s creative thoughts which follow with ‘Big 7’. For the first time, I felt the tracks synced. ‘Dey Play’ embodied Burna Boy’s typical afrobeat songs. ‘City Boy’ had pushed up expectations courtesy of the trendy video of Burna Boy and friends smashing feet on the floor mimming the song. On a classic hip-hop beat, he finesses pidgin and afrobeat vibes banging. He delivers Afrofusion in one of its finest forms.

‘Giza’ feat Seyi Vibe permeates the groove and versatility of indigenous Nigeria’s street pop; a solid jam. ’12 Jewels’ is RZA philosophy that makes a man. ‘If am lying’ is a ballad from the depth of the soul. The acoustic strings that meddled through, the profound lyricism and the underlying mass chorus weren’t enough to make it. Burna by rendition and subtle chant reiterates why he is one of the best singers of our time. ‘Thanks’ feat J. Cole reiterates how a gift is a curse. One would think it is all gratitude towards the end of the album. “Thanks’ actually takes shots, and calls out his exploits and allegations. It further unveils his brash arrogance and default to making hate out of criticism and correction.

‘I told them..! somewhat lacks musical direction considering the flow of tracks. Is it just me but it was some sort of Asakesque, the massed backing vocals were in excess. ‘I Told Them …’ is a good yet disappointing album. With so many brags and acclamations, the greatness anticipated is not even closely matched.